After early stints, first with TSG Backnang and later with Stuttgart Kickers, the talented young goalkeeper was signed by Blackburn Rovers in July of 2003 as cover for another American, Brad Friedel.

Blackburn was able to avoid work permit difficulties in signing Yelldell because he holds dual German nationality, as he was born in Stuttgart.

Yelldell made his debut in a preseason friendly against D.C. United of Major League Soccer. The tie of 1-1 pushed the match to penalties, where D.C. emerged the victor in the seventh round of shots.

With Friedel holding steady in goal for Blackburn, Yelldell was granted a loan to Coca Cola League Brighton to help him gain experience in the end of January, 2005.

At the conclusion of the season, Yelldell was released by Rovers and the young keeper quickly rejoined Stuttgarter Kickers in the Regionalliga in time for preseason preparations.

In 2008, Yelldell signed with TuS Koblenz, a German team in the 2.Bundesliga, where he would become the starting goalkeeper for two seasons.

Koblenz were relegated at the end of the 2009-10 season, but Yelldell remained in the 2.Bundesliga by transferring to MSV Duisburg. While Duisburg finished mid-table in the league, the club reached the final the DFB Pokal, where they fell to Schalke 04.

In the summer of 2011, Yelldell was the subject of a surprise transfer to Bayer Leverkusen, where he is expected to serve as a backup keeper.

It was reported in June 2016 that Yelldell signed with 3.Bundesliga side SG Sonnenhof Großaspach.